Seriously?I went to school there...and quite honestly, it was a culinary wasteland. All you have are chains...and the horrible neighborhood dives that manage to stay in business because some students are limited on transportation and, thus, are captive.I do hear that Red Mango has opened a location on campus by the Engineering school.If you're looking for ethnic, you're better off in Chinatown, Little Tokyo, or Olvera Street. Just hop on the DASH. If you're in the mood for Korean...find a friend with a car and hit up Koreatown. Search the board for CH faves in each of the neighborhoods. If you've got a car...even better...the sky's the limit. As students, we used to get 50% off at El Cholo on Western...not totally authentic, but it was good and cheap. Canter's on Fairfax is an old institution...love their deli! Some may argue with me, but I still love Philippe's (by Union Station) for French dip sandwiches (beef and lamb...double dipped).Sorry, the "links" are not working for me.

Chichen is good, I second that. Along with the tiny stand next door to Chichen that serves up great fresh shrimp cocktails and delicious sauteed fish (if I'm not mistaken the joint didn't serve mariscos in the past, but now does).

In general, this is a great little market.

But is it only a third of a mile away? That's even walking distance to me.

Mr Taster (or anyone) - ever been to that Persian place at the Mercado? Doubles as a cake store. The items look good and really authentic, but I always gravitate to the other offerings in the place when I'm there.

There are good cheap eats just northwest of campus along Pico. Hit Dino's on the N/W corner of Pico at Berendo, a block or two west of Vermont, for burgers, pastrami, carne asada, and especially the crazy chicken special -- a half-bird marinated in a yummy yellow-orange garlicky turmeric sauce and flame-grilled, served over a huge mound of fries with cole slaw and tortillas for about $5. A few blocks further west at Normandie is C & K Papa Cristo's for inexpensive Greek food. Some claim that El Parian, which always looks closed but isn't, has the best carne asada in town, Pico near Hoover. Note: See my post above about the $1.99 Wednesday specials at Togo's, limited time only -- I'm pretty sure there still is one in the strip mall on Vermont across the street from a main west campus entrance.

There is a great find that opened recently -- I am so mad that it wasn't around when I was going to school there.

Called the 23rd St. Cafe, it's on the corner of 23rd St and Portland. If you are heading east on Adams, it is the second left after Hoover. It looks like some weird deli, but in fact it has some of the BEST INDIAN FOOD I've tasted in LA. Cheap, delicious, generous portions -- order in and sit outside, the food is cooked to order and served on large metal platters. Enjoy, and tell others!

"Called the 23rd St. Cafe, it's on the corner of 23rd St and Portland. If you are heading east on Adams, it is the second left after Hoover. It looks like some weird deli, but in fact it has some of the BEST INDIAN FOOD I've tasted in LA. Cheap, delicious, generous portions -- order in and sit outside, the food is cooked to order and served on large metal platters. Enjoy, and tell others!"

Isn't there another Indian Restuarant on Vermont next to an Indian Market? It used to be all Vegetarian, but I think they now have meat dishes. I've only eaten there a couple times, but I forgot the name.

El Taurino on Hoover just below Olympic has great street-style mexican, carne asade is the forte here and the al pastor is good too. King Taco has a similar menu (same owners) and has shorter lines at Pico & Alvarado.